WHITTIER – The California girls and La Serna boys track squads claimed Del Rio League team titles during the regular season, but individual efforts dominated the day at Friday’s league track and field finals at Whittier College.

Two of the bigger standouts were no surprise.

Whittier’s Luis Dorantes, who already set a school record in the 3,200 meters earlier in the season, set the league record of 4 minutes, 19.18 seconds in to break fellow Cardinal Greg Holmes’ mark of 4:23.40 set in 1987.

The field in the 1,600 was so deep that had Dorantes not participated, El Rancho’s Pedro De Alba (4:21.27) and Jason Zapien (4:21.51) and Whittier’s Paul Mora (4:22.11) would have broken the league record.

Dorantes’ effort came after the 2007 Daily News Cross Country Runner of the Year had broken Holmes’ league record in the 3,200 (9:34) with a time of 9:29.50. El Rancho’s Daniel Herrera also turned in an impressive second-place mark of 9:32.55.

“He had an impressive day and has had an impressive season,” Whittier coach Dan Whittington said of Dorantes.

Dorantes was named boys MVP in running events.

The girls running MVP was El Rancho’s Natalie Galvan, who has been dominating since her freshman year.

Galvan, who already had claimed seven titles in her freshman and sophomore seasons, took home another four Friday.

She broke the Del Rio League record of 15.50 in the 100 hurdles to break the mark of 16.30 shared by El Rancho’s Jennifer McClain and La Serna’s Brandi Ruiz.

“I just wanted to get out and stay strong with my form,” Galvan said. “Right now, I’m just focused on league.”

She came close to pushing aside Ruiz in the 300 hurdles but just missed hitting the league record of 46.80 with her first-place time of 47.06.

Galvan also took home the gold in the 800 in 2:24.15 and long jump in 15 feet, 1 inch.

The Dons also boasted the boys and girls field MVPs in senior Jimmy Valdivia and sophomore Aisha Diakite.

Valdivia was the only high jumper in the 6-foot range and won by clearing 6-4. No one was even close to him in the pole vault as well, and he won with a mark of 13-0.

Diakite earned the title of league’s best shot putter with a distance of 30-0. She also was second in the discus at 91-11, behind teammate Jasmin Barragan’s 92-1.

Other girls winners included Santa Fe’s Maritza Williams in the 100 (13.09) and 200 (27.45); Whittier’s Christine Cooperstein in the 1,600 (5:23.40) and 3,200 (11:59.81); Pioneer’s Michelle Macias in the 400 (60.60); La Serna’s Raquel Jimenez in the high jump (5-0); California’s Berenice Alaniz in the triple jump (31-5 ) and El Rancho’s Jocelyn Brambila in the pole vault (9-0).

The Condors relay squads in the girls 400 (52.00) and 1,600 (4:16.74) also were victorious.

La Serna dominated in boys running events led by Nigel Liefveld in the 100 (11.28) and 200 (22.78), Richard Manuse in the 400 (50.21) and 800 (1:58.92) and Jonathan Rodriguez in the 300 hurdles (41.12). The Lancers 400 (43.96) and 1,600-relay squads (3:26.40) also were winners. So was junior Mike Saenz in the shot put (50-4).

Other boys winners include California’s Dudley Gamino in the long jump (20-11) and Terris Jones in the triple jump (42-0), El Rancho’s David Scott in the discus (135-9) and Santa Fe’s Aaron Turner in the 110 hurdles (15.34).

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